The Son of Earth

"These airships of yours are quite impressive."

Celestia and Luna strode side-by-side down the massive halls of the Ryuuhou. It was the only ship that had a meeting room large enough to comfortably fit the entire upper level of the fleet command, as well as the two alicorns and the half-dozen attendants, secretaries, and journalists that had followed. As they walked down the central shaft that led to the meeting room, its walls covered in various paintings, banners, and decorations, David explained the entire history of Humanity; from the ancient empires of Greece, Rome, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, to the feudal kingdoms of Europe, to the dawn of the Age of Technology and the Industrial Revolution, to the World Wars (which caused no small amount of fear in many of the reporters), to the Interlude between the end of the second world war and the beginning of the third, to the nuclear holocaust that forced humanity underground for four decades, all the way to their ventures back into the stars and their eventual downfall. He also explained how they were the last humans left, and their only hope for survival. By the time he finished his tale, the group of ponies and men reached the massive double doors of the meeting room and were ushered in by two heavily armed guards. The doors shut loudly behind them, and the bright glow of fluorescent lights flooded the room. Screens around the room displayed videos of Old Earth and the various planets of the Human Empire, some of them including the utter devastation the Ceryllians caused as they flowed through.

"This is certainly a most intriguing room, Mr. Windhelm," said the younger of the two alicorn princesses.

"Indeed it is, Princess. Indeed it is." As he said that, the domed roof of the room peeled back, revealing a layer of glass, and beyond that, the cerulean sky. Thin metal beams ran up and down the dome, providing it support, as the shapes of fighters flying around the ship darted past. The civilian ponies in the room were stunned by the bubbled viewpoint into the world above, but the Princesses knew better.

"Mr. Windhelm," Celestia said as she cleared her throat. "We are most honored to be in your presence today, but we have one question. Why did you bring us here?"

David chuckled as he leaned back in his massive chair. "Well, Princesses, surely you heard my tale."

"It was utterly heart-wrenching," Luna replied flatly, "but why are we here?"

"Well, Princesses. As you already know, we are the last of our kind."

"And?"

"We're here to ask for permission to make this land our home."

Celestia grunted at this. The other people and ponies in the room watched as the two stared each other down from across the table, David's translator bracelet barely visible poking out of the cuff of his suit. "Why should we give it to you?" she asked threateningly.

David sighed at this. "It depends, Princess. Do you want us to come because we can offer you technology the likes of which you've never seen? Do you want us to come because we can bring an easy path tho the stars? Do you want us to come so we can crush whatever enemies you may have? Or do you want us to come to stop the needless deaths of forty thousand men, women, and children?"

Celestia sighed. "But why should we hand over some of our hard-earned land to those who quite possibly serve the evil forces of chaos and threaten the harmony of our land, as well as risk revolution."

David's tone suddenly fell as he leaned onto the table. "I helped the survivors of the forces of Humanity flee from Chaos in the Great War. Billions of innocent humans died because we couldn't stop Chaos. Chaos destroyed our homes, our families, and our way of life. All who are part of my fleet are sworn to fight the evil servants of Chaos. And you, you DARE to even think that we fight for the forces of chaos? Perhaps I misjudged you, Celestia. Perhaps you really are not as great as your student made you out to be." he said angrily.

This time, it was Celestia's turn to lower her voice. "Do not speak like this of Chaos to me, human. I may not have your technology, or suffered as deeply as your people directly from Chaos' evil, but I have spent every waking moment of my life keeping the Chaos from consuming our planet. So do not insinuate that your knowledge of Chaos and its effects are greater than mine, or I will personally take your insolent head."

"Two things I have to say to you. First, please stop with the death threats. Secondly, if we were, in fact, forces of chaos, why didn't our army on the lawn of your castle simply storm it and take both you and your sister hostage, or have you executed, as well as not returning Twilight?"

Celestia pondered over this for a bit. "Your argument makes sense," she began, "but I still do not trust you completely. Just because you have not killed my sister and I yet does not mean that you will not cause trouble for our people."

David sighed. "Fine. I have one final offer to make you."

Celestia raised an eyebrow at this. "Continue."

David gulped as he formed the words, Getting out of his seat, he knelt down on one knee and lowered his head. "I, David Wilhelm, in the name of all Humanity, swear undying loyalty, fealty, and subservience from myself, all those under me, and all of their descendants until the end of time, to Her High Royal Majesty Princess Celestia of Equestria on planet Equis."

Celestia solemnly nodded her head before answering. "I accept."

"Thank you, Princess. You've saved us all."

News of the sudden agreement spread throughout the fleet quickly. At first, it was seen as a conspiracy; another attempt by Purity leaders to force them to give in to a false hope. But then, the confirmation came from none other than Celestia herself.

"Are you sure that this device is functional?" Celestia said as the silver bracelet wrapped around her foreleg. "It would be a terrible happening for it to not work just before your speech."

"I can hear you perfectly fine, Your Majesty," said one of the human outfitters who was working on securing it. "You should be all set to go; wait for the applause to finish before you go onstage.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the Eighty-Third colony fleet," David began. "You have suffered long and hard. Since ten years ago, we have been sailing through the black, with no end in sight. We have seen wonders no man has seen before; set foot on planets no man ever will again; we survived the Ceryllian blockade of earth, unlike so many of our brothers; we have maintained peace and harmony within ourselves for these ten long years, and will continue to do so.

"Through all our trials and hardships, however, we have always had the goal of survival. All we have done since we left Earth has been in the name of finding Humanity a new home, and keeping it alive. We have forged our way through the endless sea of stars for a decade; in our homes of iron, glass, and electricity, we have watched as the universe around us changed. We watched as the Ceryllians blotted out the stars that we once owned, converting them into massive energy powerhouses.

"And we persevered, and our finally getting our pay. For today, Humanity cemented its place in the universe. Today, the descendants of Mother Earth have finally found their new home. Today, we survived. Today, we will begin the slow journey of reclaiming our former glory. Today, we have formed an alliance with the ponies of Equestria, one that already runs too deeply to be broken!

"And now, the leader of Equestria and the one who allowed us to survive herself, Her High Royal Majesty Princess Celestia of Canterlot!"

Thunderous applause rose from the audience of nearly thirty thousand that had gathered. Shouts of joy, cheering, and various other approvals echoed from the crowd as David walked off and the white Princess walked on, followed closely by her sister.

"People of Humanity!" she began, talking so loudly in the Royal Canterlot Voice that she needed no microphone. The room quieted instantly. "It is with great honor and pride that I address you; for let it be known that, on this day, Human and Pony became inseparable friends!"

Her voice was magically transmitted all throughout Equestria. In Manehatten, the various announcement systems rang, "Today, let it be known that an alliance transcending all previous barriers was formed!"

In the slums of Detrot, the ponies listened hopefully to the voice of their Princess. "Let it be known that today, Equestria has entered into a new age of peace and prosperity!"

Through the frontier of Appleoosa, her voice was coming out of every radio, telegraph, and theater. "Let it be known that today, we have entered a new golden age of technology!"

Finally, in the crowded streets of Canterlot, the various businessponies stopped their daily lives and listened respectfully. "Let it be known that today, the ponies of Equestria are one with the descendants of Earth."

"Hell of a time to live, isn't it?" David asked the Vice Admiral, who was leaning on the railing of the bridge next to him, watching as the next dropship full of colonists flew off to land next to the Everfree.

"Sure is," was the Admiral's only response.